Assessing Participation of Care-Givers in Food Security and Nutrition Interventions of Orphans and other Vulnerable Children in Kibaale District: A Case Study of Rural People in Action for Development

Abstract

TUSHABOOMWE TUMUHIMBISE HERBERT (2007-M023-10021) Assessing Participation of Care-Givers in Food Security and Nutrition Interventions of Orphans and other Vulnerable Children in Kibaale District: A Case Study of Rural People in Action for Development Although civil society organisations have been heralded for performing many activities geared towards improvement of rural people‟s welfare, these attributes are largely untested and available reviews about their performance in encouraging participation are sceptical. This motivated the researcher to assess the level of participation of care-givers in food security and nutrition interventions for Orphans and Vulnerable Children implemented by Rural People in Action for Development (RUPAD) in Kibaale district. The study covered three sub-counties, namely, Mugarama, Bwamiramira and Kyanaisoke. Specifically, the study sought to examine the nature of food security and nutrition interventions implemented by RUPAD to caregivers, assess the participation levels of caregivers in RUPAD‟s food security and nutrition interventions as well as the challenges faced by care-givers in participation in RUPAD‟s food security and nutrition interventions. Using simple random and purposive sampling approaches, a total of 110 respondents participated in the study. A case study design was used and primary data collected through interviews and focus group discussions. Data collected was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis. Research findings revealed that RUPAD implemented a food security and nutrition project that provided crop husbandry support to care-givers in Kibaale district. However, there was low participation of care-givers in food security and nutrition interventions implemented by RUPAD in the area. The challenges faced by care-givers in participation in RUPAD‟s food security and nutrition interventions included the long distance between care-givers‟ residences and RUPAD offices, delay in provision of seeds, short time for meeting announcements that led to failure by many beneficiaries to attend such meetings and poor health of care-givers among others. Due to these challenges, the study made several recommendations including setting up RUPAD branch offices in each sub-county to enable care-givers to consult staff in case of need, sensitisation of the community on the importance of project management meetings and involving care-givers in project planning and management among others. Keywords: Food security, Nutrition intervention, Orphans, Vulnerable Children, Kibaale District